Abstract
Total duration (RT): 2h
Total distance (RT): 3.3km
Positive elevation: 350m
Difficulty: intermediate
Guide: no
The Mangareva Pearl Trail team
does a remarkable job of marking out, maintaining and even opening new trails,
for hikers to enjoy discovering the magnificent island of Mangareva.
Steep climb with a few ropes, narrow and vertiginous ridge at the top.
Track
Hike description
Mount Duff (441m), also called Auorotini in Mangarevan, is the highest point of the Gambier archipelago.
On the cross road between Rikitea and Gatavake, in the bend after the Piiti belvedere going towards Gatavake,
you will find a sign indicating "Mont Duff, Mokoto, Auorotini", which indicates the beginning of the trail.
On the shaded path, follow the pipe to arrive on a small marae.
Continue to follow the pipe and after 200m the trail begins to climb to the left in the pines.
After about 400m of ascent, you arrive at a fork. The right path leads to Mount Mokoto.
Take the left path up to Mount Duff, as indicated by a sign.
After 5min, you find the first rope as the climb becomes steeper.
After passing through low vegetation, the trail then climbs through the pines.
New ropes and slightly sloping path. The ascent continues with longer ropes.
After about 100m of steep climb, you come to a large overhanging rock that you go around
by the right. You leave the forest a few meters further.
After a short flat section, a final climb finally brings you to the ridge of Mount Duff.
Exceptional panorama on the bays of Rikitea and Gatavake, and on all the islands of the archipelago.
Continue on the ridge, climbing some rocks to get a nice view over Akamaru island.
Be careful, the ridge is vertiginous.
